kolkata

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; Kolkata, July 24: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its investigation into the alleged municipal recruitment scam, with Archana Mitra, the wife of Trinamool Congress leader and Kamarhati MLA Madan Mitra, appearing before the central agency for questioning on Friday. She arrived at the ED office at the CGO Complex in Kolkata, accompanied by her younger son, Shubharup Mitra.

Archana Mitra reached the Enforcement Directorate's office at around 11:30 a.m. As she entered the premises, she avoided interacting with the media and folded her hands in greeting before proceeding directly inside the office without responding to questions from journalists waiting outside.

The summons issued to Archana Mitra is part of the ED's broader investigation into alleged irregularities in municipal recruitments. The agency has summoned four members of Madan Mitra's family on separate dates as it examines allegations of illegal appointments and financial transactions linked to the case.

This week, Madan Mitra's younger son, Shubharup Mitra, was questioned by the ED for nearly nine hours on Wednesday. His elder son, Swarup Mitra, appeared before the investigating agency on Thursday and was also interrogated regarding the case. The ED has meanwhile summoned Madan Mitra himself to appear for questioning on July 29.

The Enforcement Directorate, the investigation centres on allegations that at least 125 appointments were made in the Titagarh Municipality in exchange for cash payments and gold. The agency believes that illegal financial transactions may have taken place in connection with these recruitments, and it is examining whether members of Madan Mitra's family had any role or knowledge of such transactions.

The investigation gained momentum after the ED conducted searches at multiple premises linked to Madan Mitra on June 13. During those raids, the agency questioned the Trinamool leader and later directed his wife and both sons to appear before investigators with banking records and other financial documents considered relevant to the probe.

Investigators are primarily trying to determine whether any illegal monetary transactions took place in return for municipal appointments and whether proceeds of crime were routed through family members or associated financial accounts. The questioning of Archana Mitra forms part of the agency's efforts to verify financial records and establish the money trail connected to the alleged recruitment scam.

The case is not being investigated by the ED alone. In October last year, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) also carried out a search operation at Madan Mitra's residence for nearly five hours as part of its own probe into the alleged municipal recruitment irregularities.

The investigation has also acquired political significance following recent developments within the Trinamool Congress. After ED summonses were served on his wife and two sons last week, Madan Mitra joined the Ritabrata Banerjee faction within the Trinamool Congress. Subsequently, he publicly criticised both Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the party's National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, drawing considerable political attention.

The municipal recruitment scam has already resulted in major legal action against several political figures. In the same case, the Enforcement Directorate had earlier arrested former minister Sujit Bose. The agency has since filed a chargesheet before the court against Sujit Bose and his son Samudra Bose, alleging their involvement in the recruitment scam.

The investigation progresses, the ED continues to examine financial records, banking transactions, and documentary evidence to establish whether illegal payments were made in exchange for municipal jobs. The questioning of Madan Mitra's family members is being viewed as a crucial part of the agency's efforts to uncover the alleged recruitment network and identify all those who may have been involved in the purported corruption.